Tornadoes in 1972
The Storm Prediction Center recorded 741 tornadoes in 1972, against an average of 967 a year from 1950 to 2025. They killed 27 people and injured 976. The busiest month was May (140), and the busiest single day was 22 May 1972, with 23.
- 741tornadoes
- 27deaths
- 976injuries
- 23on the busiest day (22 May 1972)
Tornadoes in 1972 were rated on the Fujita (F) scale. Counts of weak tornadoes in particular depend on how many were spotted and reported, which has changed over the decades, so compare years with care.
How strong were the tornadoes of 1972?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 174 | 23% |
| F1 / EF1 | 345 | 47% |
| F2 / EF2 | 181 | 24% |
| F3 / EF3 | 37 | 5% |
| F4 / EF4 | 4 | <1% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33 |
| Feb | 7 |
| Mar | 69 |
| Apr | 96 |
| May | 140 |
| Jun | 114 |
| Jul | 115 |
| Aug | 59 |
| Sep | 49 |
| Oct | 34 |
| Nov | 17 |
| Dec | 8 |
Deadliest tornadoes of 1972
- Portland, Oregon tornado5 April 1972, F3, 6 deaths, 300 injuries, 8.7 miles long
- Ratliff City, Oklahoma tornado19 April 1972, F4, 5 deaths, 6 injuries, 28.2 miles long
- Enterprise, Alabama tornado13 January 1972, F2, 4 deaths, 88 injuries, 6.3 miles long
Strongest tornadoes of 1972
- Ratliff City, Oklahoma tornado19 April 1972, F4, 5 deaths, 6 injuries, 28.2 miles long
- Indianapolis city, Indiana tornado14 May 1972, F4, 20 injuries, 30 miles long
- Jetmore, Kansas tornado30 April 1972, F4, 1 injury, 26.6 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.
Where the 1972 tornadoes started
- Texas (144)
- Florida (77)
- Kansas (45)
- Georgia (42)
- Mississippi (31)